Saracens v Castres: Teams
Castres head to England with revenge in mind after Saracens handed the French league leaders a defeat last week.
Last Updated: 18/12/09 4:43pm
Castres head to England with revenge in mind after Saracens handed the French league leaders an Amlin Challenge Cup defeat last week.
Castres have freely stated this week that their focus is now firmly on the Top 14, but they have nevertheless named a strong side for the trip to Watford.
Charlie Sika returns to the centres and there's a return for international flanker Ibrahim Diarra in a reshuffled back row.
There's also a spot for experienced lock Rodrigo Capo Ortega ahead of Russian international Kiril Kulemin and a completely new front row in Daniel Saayman, Georgian international Aksventi Giorgadze and Yannick Forestier.
Saracens kept their hopes alive of making it through to the knockout stages by winning in France last week.
The Guinness Premiership pacesetters will now hope to do the double over their French counterparts in the fourth round of group matches.
After being rested for the trip last week, the trio of Chris Wyles, Rodd Penney and Alex Goode all return for the home side for Saturday's clash.
Justin Marshall also comes into the starting XV after being selected at scrum-half, while in the forwards Matias Aguero is back from international duty and Tom Mercey and Don Barrell also return.
Hugh Vyvyan will captain Saracens with England skipper Steve Borthwick joining Schalk Brits, Brad Barritt, Ernst Joubert and Derick Hougaard in being rested.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Rodd Penney, 13 Kameli Ratuvou, 12 Adam Powell, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Glen Jackson, 9 Justin Marshall, 8 Don Barrell, 7 Andy Saul, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Hugh Vyvyan (c), 3 Tom Mercey, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 Matias Aguero
Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Richard Skuse, 19 Hayden Smith, 20 Wikus van Heerden, 21 Moses Rauluni, 22 Kevin Sorrell, 23 Richard Haughton
Castres: 15 Thomas Bouquié, 14 Matthieu Bourret, 13 Charles Sika, 12 Philip Christophers, 11 Paul Bonnefond, 10 Romain Boscus, 9 Thomas Sanchou, 8 Joe Tekori, 7 Darron Nell, 6 Ibrahim Diarra, 5 Ludovic Michaux, 4 Rodrigo Capo Ortega, 3 Daniel Saayman, 2 Akvsenti Giorgadze, 1 Yannick Forestier.
Replacements: 16 Marc-Antoine Rallier, 17 Gideon Lensing, 18 Yoann Rayssac, 19 Kirill Kulemin, 20 Yannick Caballero, 21 Alexandre Albouy, 22 Yoan Audrin, 23 Maxime Boyer.